Getting levothyroxine prescription abroad?

[BlueKeith]

If I was to go abroad for say 2 to 6 month abroad in Canary Islands , does anyone know how I would be able to get my levothyroxine ?

[Lalatoot]

Have you asked your GP surgery?

[BlueKeith in reply to Lalatoot]

Yeah. They said they will provide enough medication to get to the destination and find an alternative supply of that medication. The NHS’s duty of care regarding prescribing ends where a patient has been absent, or intends to be away from the United Kingdom for a period of more than three months.

[fuchsia-pink]

First question is whether, post Brexit, you can stay in part of the EU (I believe Canaries are part of Spain for these purposes) for more than 90 days in a 6 month period - ie think you would need eg Irish passport. Otherwise the 90 day limit would apply to include any other trips in the 6 months you had made to any Schengen area country - eg a trip to France in the same time period. But the rules here can be complicated to please do your research! There are on-line Schengen area calculators available

As for your question, up to 90 days is relatively easy: I would expect your GP should be able to prescribe 3 months without too much bother. But this seems an individual surgery thing - I get 2 months thyroid every time without asking, but my son (who has to pay for prescriptions) only gets 1 month at a time from the same surgery which is annoying! So you may be able to get up to 6 months' worth if you can show you will be away ...

Beyond this, hubby has been able to "cash" a UK prescription in France when he had forgotten one of his meds but had his prescription on him (much cheaper than a UK prescription as they price things individually there - and they gave him the paper prescription back, so if you use it again in the UK you can build up a useful "spare" stash) ... but I don't know if the Canaries will allow you to use a UK prescription

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Hi

I've seen other members saying they get more than a month's worth of meds at a time. I'm medically exempt as on levo and I've never got more than a 28 days worth of meds. My sons, who both pay, get the same. I didn't even know you could get more tbh. My HRT comes as a 3 month dose, but everything else has to be ordered every 3 weeks or so.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Sparklingsunshine, If you're on a stable dose, you can definitely get a longer prescription for Levo, but you'll have to ask (or push) for it. This issue comes up frequently.

Calling out to helvella as I think he might be able to point you at the relevant NHS info. for England.

For anyone in Wales, here's the link

All Wales Review and Guidance for Prescribing Intervals

awmsg.nhs.wales/files/guide...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

I usually quote this:

Levothyroxine Drug Products: A Review of Clinical & Quality Considerations

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 7 January 2013

6 Overall Summary of Recommendations

9. Levothyroxine should be prescribed and dispensed in quantities covering three months supply, where appropriate, in order to address issues of continuity of supply and also to improve convenience to patients.

assets.publishing.service.g...

This is also of interest - and points out that pharmacies get reduced income as they get a fee for each prescription - which makes me wonder who pushed so hard for 28-day prescribing:

gponline.com/gps-issue-repe...

[RedApple Administrator]

Stubbo46, Your surgery should have their own policy on this, so you should either check out their website or phone to ask.

The info on the website of the surgery link below is I think, quite typical of NHS prescribing in the circumstances you're asking about.

millviewmedicalcentre.co.uk...

[Jazzw]

I’m also pretty sure you can buy levothyroxine over the counter in Spain. My sister in law lives in Tenerife and she can certainly buy it over the counter there.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jazzw]

The Spanish official medicines site appears to say all levothyroxine products are prescription medicines.

cima.aemps.es/cima/publico/...

You can choose to view in English or Spanish (top right of page) but have to use Spanish names to search: levotiroxina

But we all know that the official status doesn't always match the practice.

[Jacarilla]

I live in Spain and am on levothyroxine. The point made earlier about the 90 day rules is correct if you are a Uk citizen but that’s an aside. You can obtain levothyroxine at any pharmacy but some will ask you to show proof that it has been prescribed, even an empty box with a pharmacy label usually will do if you don’t have your NHS prescription. (They won’t keep your prescription it’s just proof that the meds have been prescribed.) A bigger issue is change of brand as they are different here to the UK. It’s unlikely you will be able to obtain your usual brand here.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jacarilla]

Jacarilla,

It might need updating, but I included levothyroxine products available in Spain in my medicines document.

Earlier I posted a link to the Spanish medicines site.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/shcwdwpedzr93...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/12N...

[Jacarilla in reply to helvella]

Apologies so you did. I’m new on here so missed that but I’ve book marked it now as that’s a very useful document. Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

I would think that levothyroxine could be sourced abroad but I think you should ask your GP for a prescription - just in case you require one.

Some countries don't ask for a prescription and could give you levo over-the-counter.

[Sharoosz]

Hi - I was always given 2 months worth in UK and in Poland. In UK it is possible to order from your clinic online and someone can pick up your prescription for you if you give them your exemption number and name/address. Then they could just mail it to you.

[Phil865]

I have used these online pharmacies before. But not for my thyroid medicine. I am not endorsing them but they are legit.

<redacted links>Have a safe trip

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Phil865]

Please, please do NOT post links to online sources of prescription-only medicines.

Doing contravenes both this forum's guidelines and HealthUnlocked's rules.